Clemson University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt & careers

Chemical Engineering graduates of Clemson University earn a median $92,098 four years after graduating ($75,951 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $21,450. That is $4,706 below the U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates ($96,804 across 158 colleges), and ranks 2nd of 2 South Carolina colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$92,098

U.S. median for this major: $96,804.

College Scorecard field of study; 72 graduates with earnings reported

Earnings, 1 year after
$75,951

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$21,450

About 23% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,298.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$22,253 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $35,015. College Scorecard.

Clemson University Chemical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Clemson University graduates$92,098

Fewer than 3 South Carolina colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.

U.S. median (158 colleges)$96,804 (−$4,706)

Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.

Chemical Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →

Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income

Uses Clemson University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$13,607$57,8301.0 years
$30–48k$14,109$59,9631.0 years
$48–75k$18,851$80,1171.4 years
$75–110k$24,833$105,5401.8 years
$110k+$27,922$118,6692.0 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (68% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Chemical Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($92,098) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $58,582 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method

College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.

Chemical Engineering at South Carolina colleges

Every South Carolina college we cover that reports Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1University of South Carolina-Columbia$98,244$27,000$22,81179%
2Clemson University$92,098$21,450$22,25387%

Careers for Chemical Engineering graduates

Chemical engineer

Greenville area$86,820
South Carolina$101,570
U.S.$125,040

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Greenville area$160,900
South Carolina$169,040
U.S.$171,270

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

South Carolina$99,130
U.S.$109,370

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.

What families pay at Clemson University, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Clemson University

Related majors at Clemson University

Clemson University Chemical Engineering questions

How much do Clemson University Chemical Engineering graduates earn?

Chemical Engineering graduates of Clemson University earn a median $92,098 four years after graduating and $75,951 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.

How much debt do Clemson University Chemical Engineering graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of Clemson University is $21,450, about 23% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.

Where does Clemson University rank for Chemical Engineering in South Carolina?

Of 2 South Carolina colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, Clemson University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of South Carolina-Columbia at $98,244.

What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?

A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $86,820 in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC area and $125,040 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and bioengineers and biomedical engineers.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
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Cite this: “Clemson University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/clemson-university/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).